News & Discussion: Adelaide Metro Buses

[Norman]

The ICommute bus is being operated by SouthLink. Don't know which runs it is doing though.

Let's hope it's not another one of those "trials" like Zone Cruiser and Smart Stop...

[DM8]

One of the Mercs was burned to a crisp last year! Possibly due to engine oil of incorrect grade!

Bloody glad I wasn't on this thing at the time!!

http://player.video.news.com.au/adelaid ... 43RtskNZI3

[fabricator]

Um , who is running this ICommute bus and where does it go etc etc? Would be very interesting to see what it does, so more info please. Quick google produced another article from AdelaideNow (pretty much the same as IWire)

Who knows, no information on when it is going to run at all.

Still I did find this article:
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communicat ... 146,00.htm

State transport authorities across Australia will be eyeing a six-month trial in South Australia, which will see one metropolitan bus equipped with a raft of multimedia equipment and free wireless internet access.

The trial, which has been on the South Australian Government's wish list some time now, will be kicked off today. A group of technology companies invited by the government to participate in the trial hopes to prove that advertising can fund the cost of giving away internet access on public transport.

Cisco, Adam Internet — provider of WiMax broadband to metropolitan blackspots — and a local integrator MIMP Connecting Solutions (which resells Israeli-made geographic advertising system, transSpot) have helped equip the bus over the past year. The bus's internet connection will be filtered by Webshield. The University of South Australia's Institute for Telecommunications Research assisted in testing the system over the past 18 months.

ignore the video on the site, its an overseas trial of a similar system.

[Hooligan]

The first artic will possibly be on the road before Christmas

[muzzamo]

From the other forum, smells pretty accurate to me:

Ok, so I have some info I have gleaned.

1. 720 will miss the Flinders Medical Centre and turn right Sturt Rd then via Marion & Hallett Cove to the new terminus @ Old Reynella Interchange. At nights, the route will be a 720H and will be from Old Reynella Interchange to Flinders Medical Centre. So lots of confusion there as it doesn't service it at normal times unless its the 720H feeder.

2. DSTO route becomes 421 Route.

3. 560 has more services on weekdays plus new Sunday services.

4. 411 will use the road past Ace Coachlines and elimate Ryans Rd to make use of the traffic lights into Mawson Lakes on Salisbury Hwy.

5. 224X, 225X, 228X & 229X will start up. 225X's will go up Elder Smith to Mawson Interchange, then back to Main North Rd via Elder Smith. Apparently all X services will be X from Stop 29 Main North Rd to Stop 4.

6. New 298 will take over the 720's old portion along Miller St.

I'm sure theres more to come...

[Port Adelaide Fan]

Adelaide Metro Service Changes Sunday 27 September
Timetables are now available at http://adelaidemetro.com.au/servicechan ... tml#harbor

[Omicron]

Oooh, not happy. The 242 is simply eradicated without any compensating increase in 245 or 248 services. Great - a longer walk.

[The Scooter Guy]

From a defunct bus enthusiast's site, here's a Scania Volgren body bus being tested on O-Bahn. Taken in 2002, courtesy of the Phonj.

[monotonehell]

Oooh, not happy. The 242 is simply eradicated without any compensating increase in 245 or 248 services. Great - a longer walk.

Every time they adjust the schedule, my night services end earlier. The last bus from the CBD has gone from 12:30, to 12:05, 11:35 and now 11:15. Aww ;-;

[Norman]

Oooh, not happy. The 242 is simply eradicated without any compensating increase in 245 or 248 services. Great - a longer walk.

The 190 is now every 30 minutes.

[Omicron]

Oooh, not happy. The 242 is simply eradicated without any compensating increase in 245 or 248 services. Great - a longer walk.

The 190 is now every 30 minutes.

Ah, I forgot about that one! That's good, although it doesn't go near work, which is my main reason for bustulating. Sad face.

[Omicron]

As one not experienced in these matters I may be off-base, but this seems to me like far too drawn-out and difficult a process for something that really ought to be quite straightforward.

[fabricator]

No such thing as simple when talking about OBahn buses.

On a normal bus the rear wheels track the front ones well enough, put it on a concrete track and things need to be tweaked to prevent the rear wheels scrubbing (side walls of tyres rubbing against the concrete guide). Plus the suspension setup can play around with things as well. If the tyres scrub too much they will fail or create driving problems.

Now add in an Articulated bus, oh dear. Now we have two sets of rear wheels (trailer added to back of original bus), a turntable with its own suspension as well, and more variables (eg location of engine, location of rear most axle, length/weight of trailer).

The requirement of using low floor buses also causes issues, the framework needs to be solid enough not to flex. But there is less room under the floor for cross bracing particularly around the turntable itself.

[Shuz]

And this is why I say... rail for the win!

[The Scooter Guy]

No such thing as simple when talking about OBahn buses.

On a normal bus the rear wheels track the front ones well enough, put it on a concrete track and things need to be tweaked to prevent the rear wheels scrubbing (side walls of tyres rubbing against the concrete guide). Plus the suspension setup can play around with things as well. If the tyres scrub too much they will fail or create driving problems.

Now add in an Articulated bus, oh dear. Now we have two sets of rear wheels (trailer added to back of original bus), a turntable with its own suspension as well, and more variables (eg location of engine, location of rear most axle, length/weight of trailer).

The requirement of using low floor buses also causes issues, the framework needs to be solid enough not to flex. But there is less room under the floor for cross bracing particularly around the turntable itself.

In fact, one of the Mercs (numbered 581) used to have guide wheels on the front, middle & rear axles! This was prevent the tyres scrubbing but unfortunately, the middle and rear guidewheels kept hitting roundabouts & high kerbs!